Me.
No one. I don’t believe in ‘evil’ persons or groups of people. Nor do I believe in ‘good’ ones, considered as the opposite of evil.
In other words: I don’t think “we” are the good guys and I certainly don’t think “they” (our supposed adversaries) are the bad ones.
That notion of evil (opposed to good or right) was, and still is to this day, too often abused to silent or even to murder people, individuals or entire groups of population, that some other person or group of persons hate or whose ideas/work/questions or even mere lifestyle they want to get rid of.
Our very own modern Western societies (I’m from the EU) are filled with that kind of witch hunt.
Heck, that expression, ‘witch hunt’, is telling all there is to know about ‘evil’ vs ‘good’: is there anyone to believe one single real witch was ever tortured and burned? It was all a lie and instrumentation of our own fear and stupidity (that of the crowds, that of the population) against people and group of population that some other group wanted to get rid of.
‘Evil’ is being used at this very moment, in our so civilized and educated Western societies, as a Trojan horse to pass laws that would stand no chance to pass if they were not proposed to fight against one of our two very own evils. Laws that are passed in order to destroy every inch of freedom and right to privacy, every ounce of power, we might one day have enjoyed as citizens of our countries (the very same rights for which our smarter-than-us ancestors may have made a revolution, btw), and they are all passed in the name of ‘fighting the terrorism’ (or to ‘protect our security’, aka our ‘good’ way of life against their evil one) or in the name of the even more powerful 'protecting the kids’ (from that unspeakable evil perverts are).
As long as we will be willing to admit there are any evil persons (or behaviors, or choice, or whatever), smart people will use our own gullibility against ourselves, and in their own interest. And they will win.
Edit: clarifications.
Preach!
I don’t know about in Europe, but in the States this is a terribly-destructive concept, oft used by the right and elitists to manipulate and destroy other peoples lives. The illusions of good & evil are some sober and critical lessons that Americans have needed to learn for some time now, yet we keep whiffing at the plate, so to speak.And the ongoing damage is still alive and well today. Bush Jr, for example, ludicrously stating that the USA was pursuing ‘evildoers,’ when his administration could be argued to be the biggest evildoer of them all. Nowadays that’s just kind of quaint and forgettable compared to the current admin, but it’s a major thread that’s been alive in the States since colonial days.
That said, I’d argue that good and evil have some valid colloquial meaning. For example, we can say “this state decision is quantifiably evil,” and it can be understandable and arguably very true. I don’t think we need to get hung up on semantics, there. We can also ask ‘what are the real origins of these terms, anyway?’, and I think it’s interesting to think about from a sociological and even tribal perspective.
Preach!
I don’t know about in Europe, but in the States this is a terribly-destructive concept, oft used by the right and elitists to manipulate and destroy other peoples lives.It is, and it’s also (ab)used by all sides, even my own.
That is something I first felt real ashamed about but then I realized it had helped me open my eyes and realize I should not trust any side by default, not even my own. Mine even less so, as a matter of fact, knowing I was already biased in its favor.
That ‘protect the kids’ I shared as an obvious example is indeed used by all sides… saying someone is some kind of perv is the surest way to really harm them and their own side with them, and to disqualify any correct argument they might have, at the same time.
It’s a shame but, like I said, realizing that was eye opening for me: we’re no better than they are, we’re willing to be the same kind of lying assholes when it serves us to be so.
I don’t think we need to get hung up on semantics, there
I think we do. Nowadays probably more than ever as we quickly see an erosion in our ability to use articulated and to express (edit: and to listen to) nuanced thoughts.
edit: clarification/rephrasing.
Bruno Mars. No specific reason, just a gut feeling.
I don’t know why but one time after getting groceries, walking back home I had this thought all of the sudden in my head about how weird it is that Bruno Mars is a real human that he exist and most probably is currently walking somewhere on the very planet I am on. It was so vivid and just weird why it was Bruno Mars of all people. I did not have heard his music since his hits hit the charts and even then was not a real fan of his.
I’m telling you there is something about him, maybe it would explain his last name though.
I have a visceral hate for his music. Always have.
